Adjustable control device



July 20, 1948. E. J. CASAROLL ADJUSTABLE CONTROL DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed July 19, 1945 INVENTOR. ERNEST J. CASAROLL Mix ATTODNEVS Lj v E 4 i July 20, 1948. E. J. CASAROLL 2,445,602

ADJUSTABLE CONTROL DEVICE Filed July 19, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ERNEST J- CAsARoLL BYVMM ATTORNEVS condition, the operator may use the same device to effect either an increase or decrease in the synchronized engine speeds by pulling or pushing the handle 2! to effect axial movement of the shaft IEI relative to the housing l2. By this action, both machine nuts are slid within the container I 2 in the same direction and to the same amount, and the rods I1 and I8 and the control wires of the cables 22 and 23 are moved a corresponding amount.

Referring to Fig. 2, the handle 2| is shown after being rotated from the position of Fig. 1 with the reversed threaded nuts I 5 and I6 having assumed,

thereby, a different relative position from that shown in Fig. 1.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 3, the same principle of operation is employed. A structural change here shown is in the screw threaded portion 23 which is of the double reverse thread type and is composed of two sections of threaded length, one provided with a right-hand thread 21 and the other with a left-hand thread 28. Engaged with the respective portions of threaded length 29 are full nuts 33 and 3 l. Rotation of the handle 2! now causes a relative motion between the nuts 30 and 3| effecting a relative motion between the control wires 22 and 23. Likewise, a pushing or pulling of the handle 2| causes its axial movement relative to the housing 12 and the simultaneous movement of control wires 22 and 23 without relative motion between them.

Referring to Fig. 4, a further modified device embodying the present invention is shown wherever a different adaptation of the method of controlling the device and of adjusting the separate operating units is shown.. At 33 is an elongated operating handle pivotally mounted on the housing 34.- The operating shaft 35 extends through handle 33 and is connected with a rotatably mounted block 36 on which are mounted two pins 3! which engage slotted plates 38 attached to handle 33 by screws 39. Movement of the handle 33 in the directions as indicated by arrow 43 imparts a corresponding axial motion to the shaft 35. The shaft 35 has a reversely threaded portion 4| on which is mounted a, right-hand control nut 42 and a left-hand control nut 43. R0- tation of the shaft 35 is accomplished by rotation of a knurled nut 44 rigidly attached to the end of shaft 35 adjacent the rotatably mounted block 36. Having accomplished the desired relative adjustment, of the nuts 42 and 43, further rotation of the knurled nut 44 is prevented by a clamping screw 45 which jams against the rotatably mounted block 36 and locks the knurled nut 44 and the shaft 35 against further rotation. The block 36 is held against axial movement by the collar 46 as shown in Fig. 5. Rotation of block 36 during the time that knurled nut 44 is being adjusted and screw 45 is loosened, is permitted only to the extent of the length of the slots in the slotted plates 38, which are of sufficient lengths to permit a rockin movement of the pins 31 therein when the handle 33 is operated.

The device shown in Fig. 4 when used for the adjustment of two interconnected internal combustion engines would be used substantially as follows: The operator observing a difference in speed between the two engines as indicated by tachometers or other indicating device would rotate the knurled nut 44 either in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction until by observing the engine tachometers or other indicating device it was shown that they were synchronized. The

synchronized operation of the engines at desired speeds, either increased or decreased, is then accomplished by a fore or aft movement of the handle 33 effecting an opening or closing of the two carburetors simultaneously. The movement of the nuts 42 and 43 is transmitted to the carburetor control arms indicated at 50 and 5| by the control wires 52 and 53 of the push-pull cables 54 and 55 the outer sheaths of which are connected to the housing 34 in any suitable manner. The control wires 52 and 53 are connected respectively with push rods 56 and 51 which in turn are connected with the nuts 42 and 43 respectively.

A device of the present invention in any of the forms here shown permits the accurate synchronized adjustment of connected engines or other devices connected for synchronous operation and permits a ready control thereof through various operating cycles. When used, for example, to control spaced aircraft engines, the device per mits the pilot to synchronize the engines at' a given speed and thereafter to simultaneously ac celerate the synchronized engines by a single operation of the control device. The modified construction shown in Fig. 4 is particularly recommended for this use. For the synchronized control and operation of spaced engines, as in marine construction, the form of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is particularly recommended asthe turning of the handle 2| permits varying the relativev speeds of the engines as is frequently desired to facilitate handling of the boat. This is particularly true of small boats of the cabin cruiser type in which twin screws are provided,

each of which is driven by a separate engine. By varying simultaneously the speeds of such engines, the handling of such a boat is greatly facilitated.

I claim:

1. An adjustable control device for controlling a plurality of engine throttles or the like and comprising a housing, a shaft in said housing mounted for rotation and axial movement relative thereto, means for rotating said sh'aft and for moving said shaft axially relative to said housing, a right-hand threaded portion and a left-hand threaded portion on said shaft, a threaded follower mounted one each on said right-hand threaded portion and said left-hand threaded portion for movement in opposite directions upon rotation of said shaft in either direction and for axial movement as a unit with said shaft, and a connecting member leading from each of said threaded followers to one engine throttle.

2. An adjustable control device as claimed in claim 1 and further characterized in that the means for rotating said shaft and for effecting axial movement thereof is a single handle secured to the end thereof.

3. An adjustable control device as claimed in claim 1 and further characterized in that said threaded followers comprise threaded half-nut members mounted against rotation within said housing. 4. An adjustable control device as claimed in claim 1 and further characterized in that said shaft is adjustably rotated by a rotatable knob member and is moved axially by a swinging lever connected therewith.

5. An adjustable throttle control for a plurality of separate internal combustion engines, said control comprising a threaded shaft having a right and left hand threaded portion, a threaded follower engaging the right hand! threaded portion, a second threaded follower engaging the left hand threaded portion, a connection between each of said followers and the throttle of one of said plurality of separate internal combustion engines, and manual control means for rotating said shaft to mOVe said followers simultaneously in opposite directions and for axially moving said shaft and followers as a unit.

6. An adjustable control device for controlling the throttles of a plurality of separate internal combustion engines or the like, said control device comprising a threaded shaft mounted for rotary and axial movement having a right and left hand threaded portion, a. threaded follower engaging the right hand threaded portion, a second threaded follower engaging the left hand threaded portion, a connection between said followers and the throttles of said plurality of separate internal combustion engines, and manual control means for moving said shaft and said followers and including a rotatable adjusting knob secured to said shaft for rotating said shaft and moving said followers simultaneously in opposite directions and a single control lever secured to said shaft for effecting axial movement of said shaft and said followers.

ERNEST J. CASAROLL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

- UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 853,719 Munro May 14, 1907 1,065,142 Key June 17, 1913 1,454,505 Christen May 8, 1923 1,723,537 Wright Aug. 6, 1929 1,889,295 Rosatellii; Nov. 29, 1932 2,073,891 Vogler Mar. 16, 1937 2,313,768 Putt Mar. 16, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 310,148 Italy July 29, 1933 424,814 Great Britain Feb. 28, 1935 

